The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), in partnership with the Canadian Welding Bureau, hosted a Welding Exploration Camp for female high school students, to help spark their journey toward a career in the trades.
During the one-month program, fifteen students in grades 9 and 10 met weekly at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School. With no prior welding experience before joining the camp, they received personal protective equipment and safety training while learning each step of the process – from cutting metal using a plasma cutter, to welding their own unique metalwork.
Led by OCDSB OYAP Coordinator Farhana Moshira, the camp aimed to break down barriers, increase awareness of the trades, and encourage female students to explore a field where women have been underrepresented in the past. It offered a supportive space for the students to gain hands-on experience.
Each young welder worked on four to five projects, ranging from name plates to nature-inspired creations like roses, tree trunks, and butterflies. They also had the opportunity to talk to CTV News about their experience.
Here’s what the students had to say about their journey:
“I really enjoyed meeting so many people from different schools, people that I wouldn’t have met without this welding class. The opportunity to get together and learn a new trade with girls my age was an amazing experience, and I’d definitely recommend it to other girls. I’d love to do something like this again.” – Claire, South Carleton High School
“Before I started welding, I never thought of welding as a form of art … that you could just take useless pieces of metal and weld them together to create metal wonders. I am not a patient person but this course taught me about patience and being able to put your safety first. Sometimes, I just wanted to throw my art in the trash can because it caught on fire or it was too difficult, but I didn't give up and the welding course helped me. Just in the span of a month, my viewpoint to see the world become wider. And, I really, really loved it.” – Gungaadash, Lisgar Collegiate Institute
“The welding camp was truly an amazing experience, I think that it’s so great being able to meet new people, as well as have the opportunity to learn about a new interest that I would never have had the chance to otherwise.” – Rowan, Lisgar Collegiate Institute
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in OYAP! It was super fun and insightful!” – Anna, Cairine Wilson Secondary School
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Watch the video below to see the students' skills in action and hear about what they learned through the experience.
To see more of the students’ creations, check out the gallery below: